Ore-separator



l UNITED STATES.

PATENT 'O1-Fica GEORGE A. METCALF,` OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

oRE-SEPARATO R.

`SPECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,651, dated March 28, 1882. d

Application filed July 16, 1881.` (No model.) l

described in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of'machines which operate to separate the heavier metals from sand or crushed quartz by the difference of their specific gravity in water.

My improvement is embodied in a tank or vessel having near its bottom a finely-perforated diaphragm adapted to support the mass to be operated upon, a water space and inlet thereto beneath the diaphragm, so as to give a regulated upward current of water under pressure through the fine perforations, and a rotary stirring apparatus adapted to act continuously and at all points in the mass to agi-` tate it while thewaterflows upwardlythrough it. My invention further'consists in the devices and combinations of devices set forth in the appended claim.

ure l being a perspective view thereof with some parts broken away to show the internal construction, and Fig. 2 a vertical central section on the line :n x of Fig. '1.

A is the tank, made of wood or metal, and of such dimensions as may be most convenient.

B is the diaphragm or false bottom, preferably of thin metal, but of sufficient strength to support the weight and strain coming upon it. It is pierced with fine perforations, near together, so that the water entering through the inlet G to the water-space D beneath the diaphragm under pressure shall ascend in minute forcible currents through the mineralbearing mass. These upward currents have a buoyant'tendency ou the mass in the tank, affecting the lighter materials most and carrying them gradually toward the top of the tank, where they overflow or pass off by the gate or gates E, while the heavier and more valuable metalremains or is withdrawn laterally through the gate or gates F.

In order that the entire mass may be acted upon equally, without the formation of channels for the water through it, leaving parts undisturbed, I provide a rotary agitator consisting of a head, H, iilled with downwardly-projecting prongs Gr, which penetrate the mass from top to bottom and continually stir it, so as to bring new material directly into the path of the several jets with every revolution. f The head H is supported in any convenient manner, preferably on three or morev ro1lers,-I which are journaled near `the top of the walls of the tank. A cross-bar or frame, J, supports the hopper K to receive the material to be operated upon, which enters the tank through a slotted tube, L, forming a central bearing around which the agitator revolves, and provided With an adjustable gage, M, adaptedby a sliding movement to reduce the dimensions of the slotted inlet to any extent desired. A water-pipe, N, may conduct a stream of Water to the hopper to facilitate the feed. The material therefore enters the tank centrally, at or below the water-level, by means of the tube L through an aperture of less area. than said tube, which prevents clogging and promotes a regular and systematic feed, graduated to the speed of rotation of the agitator and to the rapidity of dow of the upward water-current; and hence the several parts of the apparatus are adapted to eo-operate and act continuously, the material being received centrally, separated horizontally, and discharged laterally through the lower and upper gates respectively.

I provide the walls of the tank with one or more glass panels, P, through which the progress of the work may be observed as it proceeds. Such panels may be readily removed and replaced when required, and access may thus be had to the interior of the tank, it' desired. The movement of the mass being from center to circumference during the separating y IOS ne of the vertical standards. Other grooved wheels or idlers, S S, are employed to retain the belt in position in changing its direction.

I am aware that in coal and ore washers an 'upward current of water has been employed to iremove the dust and refuse matter from the 1l-tlrnps. Hence I do not cla-im broadly an orelseparator having such direction of current.

I am also aware of the patent to Ambler, dated December 26,1865, showing a wire sieve .Y on which the material is stirred by four radiating arms bearing vertical prongs provided with or connected by horizontal knives, by ywhich devices yit is proposed to separate sand from ore in an upward current, the ore to lpass downwardly through the sieve against the curt rent. -My invention does not contemplate such arpassage, such a screen, nor such an agitator, v`and my experience shows such apparatus to be 4and not mechanically, bya screen, allowing the creto vpass downwardly through it; and my agitator stirs theentire mass uniformly, and not certain lines merely beneath the radial arms. I discharge the ore from above the perforated plate, and not from below the separating-sieve, as in the device referred to.

I claim as of my invention- The tank A, having the perforated diaphragm B and water-space beneath it, as de-r scribed, and provided with a gate for the discharge ot the heavier metal above the diaphragm, and a gate or overflow in a higher plane for the escape of the lighter material, in combination with a rotary agitator adapted to act simultaneously on all portions of the mass, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereto aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. METCALF. .Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, C. G. KEYES. 

